On 5 December 2016, the 2^nd board meeting of China-Southeast Asia Research Center on the South China Sea (CSARC) was held in Haikou, bringing together representatives from China, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

The representatives discussed the charter arciles and work plan of the CSARC and decided to strengthen ties among regional maritime agencies and promote regional pragmatic maritime cooperation by holding international conferences, conducting ocean-themed trainings, undertaking joint research projects and other ways.